FSU assistant coach Rick Trickett lights fire under linemen

Veteran starters have adapted to Trickett's demands, shifting his focus to rookie

(Kelvin Kuo, Kelvin Kuo-USA…)

August 7, 2014|By Brendan Sonnone, Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — The noises echoing off the brick-wall corridor leading into FSU's practice field do not change much.

Massive offensive linemen grunt as they collide time and time again in drills at the front of the football facility. There's also the occasional whistle or the thumping sound of players striking tackling dummies.

But sooner or later, a raspy voice rises above the rest of the audible clutter. In his West Virginia drawl, Rick Trickett will let out a slew of one-liners and obscenity-laced outbursts aimed at offensive linemen who are usually close to a foot taller than him.

The rants range from comical to intense and have become one of the hallmarks of FSU's practices.

For years, Florida State starting offensive linemen bore the brunt of Trickett's angst. The starting five, all seniors with significant experience, are no longer the focal points of Trickett's tirades. Instead, Trickett, in his mid-60s, has largely turned his attention to a group of newcomers.

"We're getting to it," starting right tackle Bobby Hart said when asked if he can go a full practice without getting yelled at by Trickett. "[Wednesday], he didn't really have to do too much, it was more towards the younger guys. But for us he basically wants us to set an example so he can coach the other guys."

Not receiving a regular earful from Trickett is unsettling to Hart. After all, he had become accustomed to it. Hart and fellow senior starters Cam Erving (6-6, 308), Josue Matias (6-6, 325), Austin Barron (6-3, 293) and Tre' Jackson (6-4, 330) have combined for 112 career starts. Over the course of those starts came unavoidable growing pains, with the hard-nosed Trickett letting his linemen hear it for every mistake they made.

Technique was wrong? Trickett let them know. Missed an assignment? Trickett let them know. Weren't being physical enough? Trickett slapped them atop the helmet and let them know.

"All of us caught heat because we had to play right away," Hart said.

But the pushing only made the linemen better. Erving made numerous All-American teams last year while Matias and Jackson are both considered top pro prospects. Hart was an All-ACC honorable mention last year and Barron has been solid in five career starts.

From left to right, FSU has arguably the top offensive line in the country.

"[Trickett] is never going to let us [believe we're] the best offensive line in the country," Jackson said. "I think that's a good thing, though. He keeps all of us level. We go out and practice and do stuff great, but having a coach that's going to pick out stuff you do bad, we can make a great block, but he'll make sure we need to work on our steps. He makes us so much better."

While the current group of starters experienced baptism by fire, FSU's reserves will be brought along slowly, at least when it comes to playing in games. Trickett has his hands full these days. FSU brought in a handful of new linemen in the 2014 recruiting class, a group that Jackson says is the biggest he's ever seen.